Kenjutsu BT with Anbu Junior

[-Cobalt-]

As the second dummy appears, Jiraya focuses his attention on it and dashes with his bokken firmly held in both hands. Before he reaches his dummy he rises his arms above his head so that the sword is positioned parallel to his spine. He does this far enough from the dummy imagining it was a real opponent, the dummy could not reach him as he gains momentum with his strike. As he reaches melee range of the dummy Jiraya flings his arms forwards, sending the bokken into the dummies head, crushing both the bokken and the dummy due to the force of the attack. He then stands frozen in place with half a bokken in his hands.

O _ O.... Whooops.

 

[Ańbu Juniør]

Excellent, just tone down the power output Lol

Save it for later when we spar ^_^

Now, the thing in two-handed that actually is a bit different.

Can you tell me the difference between a stab and a lunge is? How is it done, what are its advantages, and what are its disadvantages?

 

[-Cobalt-]

Excellent, just tone down the power output Lol

Save it for later when we spar ^_^

Now, the thing in two-handed that actually is a bit different.

Can you tell me the difference between a stab and a lunge is? How is it done, what are its advantages, and what are its disadvantages?

I think I need a new sword O.O

A stab is a stationary movement, where the user only uses his arms to perform the motion whereas a lunge has more power. I believe a lunge is done while running, you actually run your sword into the opponent with speed and power. Advantages are that it's pretty strong and sturdy while the disadvantages are the vulnerability of the user and the momentum he has which can be used to take the user down.

 

[Ańbu Juniør]

Basically. Lunges have a lot of power behind them, and much greater range.
Once you get some practice in, you'll be able to get around the weakness of lunges by transferring your momentum, but that's for later.

A lunge needs to be straight forward, with the hand of the leg you are stepping forward with on top (If you use dual weild) - you'll extend your arm as you lean your upper body into the strike - don't make your knee go over your ankle, as that's what allows for quick escapes.

The thrusting by both arms followed by the upper bodies momentum allows for a greater striking strength U_U

If you plan on using two swords, then you'll need to make minor adjustments to your move. The thing with the two swords, it would really depend on how you went about doing it - I use a sort of double one-handed lunge with two swords.

*Tosses a spare bokken to you*

Now, if you've grasped that concept, tell me when would be the best time to use a lunge and then perform a lung for me

 

[-Cobalt-]

Catches the bokken in flight.

The best time to perform a lunge is during a horizontal defense posture by the opponent (can easily be bypassed by a lunge), or when the opponent has parried a strike, use the opportunity to perform a lunge and take them out.

After Jiraya catches the bokken he immediately dashes towards Anbu Junior with his upper body slightly arched forwards and his sword before him. Entering melee range but being still at a safe distance not to offer him an easy counter, Jiraya stretches his arms out and stopping the sword tip mere inches away from his mentors chest.

When dashing at my opponent like this, is it better to keep distance or make the smallest distance possible? I'm talking about taijutsu as well as kenjutsu.

 

[Ańbu Juniør]

The best time to do a lunge is when after the opponent parries. If you us it to bypass a horizontal defense, the opponent can simply knock your blade upwards, leaving you wide open for the counter.

Well both kenjutsu and taijutsu are close range fighting styles, so the best thing to do is to put pressure on your opponent. You need to anticipate your opponents move after you attack and respond accordingly.

Ex:

After taking two quick steps towards my opponent, i swipe at his feet, causing him to either jump or move backwards. If you jump upwards, i perform a vertical strike that cuts you down while in the air. If you move backwards, then i shift my weight to my foot performing the sweep, and do a quick lunge towards you

Something along those lines would work best.

Alright, so side-stepping is as it sounds:
It involves stepping to your side to dodge an attack, and it works well to dodge pretty much any attack that's not a horizontal slash.

You can preform a sidestep by either pushing off with your opposite leg (If I want to rush right, I push off with my left leg), or by actually quickly stepping in that direction.

It's pretty simple, but immensely useful.
Try describing a movement as if a vertical slash was coming down at you.

 

[-Cobalt-]

The best time to do a lunge is when after the opponent parries. If you us it to bypass a horizontal defense, the opponent can simply knock your blade upwards, leaving you wide open for the counter.

Well both kenjutsu and taijutsu are close range fighting styles, so the best thing to do is to put pressure on your opponent. You need to anticipate your opponents move after you attack and respond accordingly.

Ex:

After taking two quick steps towards my opponent, i swipe at his feet, causing him to either jump or move backwards. If you jump upwards, i perform a vertical strike that cuts you down while in the air. If you move backwards, then i shift my weight to my foot performing the sweep, and do a quick lunge towards you

Something along those lines would work best.

Alright, so side-stepping is as it sounds:
It involves stepping to your side to dodge an attack, and it works well to dodge pretty much any attack that's not a horizontal slash.

You can preform a sidestep by either pushing off with your opposite leg (If I want to rush right, I push off with my left leg), or by actually quickly stepping in that direction.

It's pretty simple, but immensely useful.
Try describing a movement as if a vertical slash was coming down at you.

Sounds simple enough.

After clashing with his opponent Giovanni notices his opponent raising his sword upwards with both his hands, wanting to gain momentum for a vertical, downward slash. Giovanni uses the momentum of the opponents slash to dodge by pushing his right leg against the ground and leaning to the left, sidestepping as the opponents swords drops to Giovanni's previous location. Due to the might the sword was knocked down with it is stuck in the ground for a few seconds, just enough for him to launch a counter attack. Performing a horizontal slash, Giovanni attacks his opponents vulnerable left side, aiming to maim him.

Good enough?

 

[Ańbu Juniør]

Sounds simple enough.

After clashing with his opponent Giovanni notices his opponent raising his sword upwards with both his hands, wanting to gain momentum for a vertical, downward slash. Giovanni uses the momentum of the opponents slash to dodge by pushing his right leg against the ground and leaning to the left, sidestepping as the opponents swords drops to Giovanni's previous location. Due to the might the sword was knocked down with it is stuck in the ground for a few seconds, just enough for him to launch a counter attack. Performing a horizontal slash, Giovanni attacks his opponents vulnerable left side, aiming to maim him.

Good enough?

Its fine except the two parts that i underlined. My problem with the first part is that i don't understand how your opponents momentum affect your move. The second part is that when you side-step, you don't really need to push off with your right foot or say anything about leaning. Just say that you saw the direction of the opponnts swing and say which direction you step to.

When you side-step to your right, a slash would actually pass your left side, but I'm pretty sure you get the idea.

Once more, though - this time dodging a diagonal slash that cuts from your upper right to lower left. (/)

 

[-Cobalt-]

Its fine except the two parts that i underlined. My problem with the first part is that i don't understand how your opponents momentum affect your move. The second part is that when you side-step, you don't really need to push off with your right foot or say anything about leaning. Just say that you saw the direction of the opponnts swing and say which direction you step to.

When you side-step to your right, a slash would actually pass your left side, but I'm pretty sure you get the idea.

Once more, though - this time dodging a diagonal slash that cuts from your upper right to lower left. (/)

I was trying to say that his gathering of momentum gives me a timeframe to dodge.

Giovanni once again stands facing his opponent. Noticing how his opponent brings his sword up to his left shoulder and seeing the positioning of the sword he knows it's a diagonal slash heading towards Giovanni. Giovanni decides to sidestep to his right, letting the opponents sword continue on it's trajectory but miss Giovanni.

 

[Ańbu Juniør]

Ah, here's the trick Cobalt, With Diagonal slashes, you want to step towards where it starts - you'll be in the blade's path, and will move out of the way quicker. So when you stepped right (His left), you dodged it excellently.

Now, Arc-stepping is the exact same as Side-stepping, only you apply a curve to the path of your movement in order to better set up a counter attack.

For example, with the previous move, you would've arced your movement to put you on the opponents left side - and they'd be completely open.

There's really no need to practice that one, so if you understand, we'll move on.

 

[-Cobalt-]

I understand that one, let's continue .

 

[Ańbu Juniør]

Next is "other methods of dodging". It's gonna be kind of a weird mash-up of lesser, basic movements.

So, first and foremost, jumping. Can you explain how you can use jumping to dodge the strikes we've covered?

 

[-Cobalt-]

Jumping is basically propelling oneself from the ground to evade or get closer to the opponent. Jumping can evade any of the strikes but the drawback is that the jumper loses range and can't attack even though he dodges the opponent. A jump that can evade any strike is the backwards jump.

 

[Ańbu Juniør]

Right. You can also use it to avoid vertical slashes by jumping either right or left, though you have to be weary of follow-up attacks; also, you can jump to avoid horizontal slashes, but, again, you have to be weary of how the opponent follows-up the movement. But, we'll get into detail as to why with both as we get into the advanced segment.

Jumping is simple enough, and I think you can explain it pretty well, so I won't ask you to demonstrate. Remember, though, that it can also be used to dodge stabs and lunges if you jump backwards or too the side.

Generally jumping backwards is one of the safest ways to retreat and doge, but it doesn't allow you a tactical advantage say, like jumping forward does. Again, we'll save that for the advanced regiment.

Alright, now how about ducking?

 

[-Cobalt-]

Ducking is good for dodging horizontal slashes but not in all scenarios (if it's low it won't work). You basically drop down, bending your knees. It can dodge some diagonal slashes as well, but the user has to watch carefully. It's a useless defense against vertical slashes.

 

[Ańbu Juniør]

Yes. That's about all ducking is good for Lol

Next are lesser used forms of dodging, and gymnastics.

I use this as a broad term, and the reason I use it less is because in real life...these moves might not be smart, but in the RP, they work due to being Shinobi.

First are things like dodge rolls, which is probably the most common gymnastic move. It can avoid any form of attack except a sweep, and you do it simply by throwing your body in once direction, while directing your upper body downward, so you do a quick roll in that direction. You'll need to push up and twist your back as soon as you feel your feet touch the ground - this'll let you spring board away from the opponent, as well as allow you to rotate to face them.

Give it a shot.

 

[-Cobalt-]

Yes. That's about all ducking is good for Lol

Next are lesser used forms of dodging, and gymnastics.

I use this as a broad term, and the reason I use it less is because in real life...these moves might not be smart, but in the RP, they work due to being Shinobi.

First are things like dodge rolls, which is probably the most common gymnastic move. It can avoid any form of attack except a sweep, and you do it simply by throwing your body in once direction, while directing your upper body downward, so you do a quick roll in that direction. You'll need to push up and twist your back as soon as you feel your feet touch the ground - this'll let you spring board away from the opponent, as well as allow you to rotate to face them.

Give it a shot.

Looking at the opponent and seeing how he aims to performa vertical downward slash Giovanni jumps to the opponents left, his right throwing himself to the ground, while using his arms to get into a roll in order to escape the slash. As his feet touch the ground after rolling, Giovanni springs up and rotates around his axis, drawing his sword and performing a left to right vertical slash.

 

[Ańbu Juniør]

Ehh >.> you didnt have to attack lol. But you need to state that you direct your upper body downward ok?

This move is very useful.

Now, something I don't use a lot is flips, But they're useful. You can flip forward and use your opponents body to attack and retreat at the same time, or back flip for a quick chain of flips to confuse the enemy and create distance. If you are in a real close combat fight, you can flip over your opponent to dodge their attack AND end up in their blind spot

Now lets say your opponent performs a Horizontal slash, use flips to dodge/create distance between you and him.

 

[-Cobalt-]

Ehh >.> you didnt have to attack lol. But you need to state that you direct your upper body downward ok?

This move is very useful.

Now, something I don't use a lot is flips, But they're useful. You can flip forward and use your opponents body to attack and retreat at the same time, or back flip for a quick chain of flips to confuse the enemy and create distance. If you are in a real close combat fight, you can flip over your opponent to dodge their attack AND end up in their blind spot

Now lets say your opponent performs a Horizontal slash, use flips to dodge/create distance between you and him.

With the slash coming at Giovanni he pushes himself of the ground and performs a backflip letting the horizontal slash pass by him. That way he increases the distance between himself and the enemy.

 

[Ańbu Juniør]

Good. Now do one were you flip over your opponent and attack him from behind. Remember that if you're facing your opponent when you flip, your bak will be facing him hen you land (Unless you do a flip spin Lol)

Now are parries. I describe parries as a lesser form of a counter - instead of matching a strike and immediately counter-attacking, parries are generally used to either stop, redirect, or simply deflect an attack - that's not to say that they can't be incredibly useful.

Think of it like this - if you come at me with a horizontal slice, instead of actually blocking your blade and stopping it, I swing my blade at yours, hitting it near the top, and push it out wide.

That's a key to remember with parries - they generally hit above the mid-point of the blade. They stop an attack with the strike, but it doesn't keep your blade in prolonged contact with another.

A parry is more of a way to push their blade away while keeping you on the inside so don't mix it up with deflecting.

Got all that? or do you need a demonstration?